Side slipping feeler for looms



Nov. 28, 1933. o. v. PAYNE SIDE SLIPPING FEELER FOR LOOMS Filed July 3, 1929 J/ VEN TUR 5CAHVPAY/v5 TTU/:PNE V5 Patented Nov. 28, 193.3

TENT" FFiCE sroE estremo restan ron LooMs' .Oscar V. Payne, Worcester, Mass., Vassigner to- Crompton t Knowles Leoni Works, Worcester,- Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts,

Applicata@ July s, i929;` 'senat No. 375,722y

` 29 oiaims. (o1. 13e-fasc) This invention relates to improvements in` weft detectorsfor looms and it is the general object of the invention to provide an improved side slipping weft detector capable of yielding to a certain extent to absorb the shock incident to the engagement oi the yarn and detector.l

In the operation of the usual weft replenishing loomAthe yarn is moved forwardly by the lay on eachfdetecting beat to engage the weft detector; Fine yarn is likely to be out by the weft detector when only a few coils remain on the barrel of the bobbin. It is a `further object of my invention to provide aninherently resilient detector element so made that as the yarn engages the detector the latter will he deformed somewhat without requiring the relatively' heavy carrier for the detector element to be set immediately in motion upon engagement of the yarn and detector, thereby protecting theyarn.

It, is a more-specic object of my present inn vention to providea detector element formed of resilient wire and so shaped that it will bend on itself during the rst part of the contact between the yarn and the element, the slide which supports the detector being set into motion gradually and at a rate of speed which is slower than that of the advancing lay.

It is another object of my invention to provide a yielding support between the weft detector surface and a movable support which acts in such away that when the surface is moved forwardly by presence of sufficient weft an arm on the support which ooacts with the controller is constrained to move away from the controller so as to prevent premature indication. rThis result may be obtained by supporting the detector surface on a wire having a bend which exten-ds generaily in the direction .opposite to that in which the feeler slides at indication of weft ex'- haustion. Y 4

With these and other objects in view which will Vappear as the description proceeds, my invention resides in the combination and 'arrangement of parts hereinafter described and set forth in the claims.

1n the accompanying drawing, wherein two convenient embodiments of my invention are set forth,

Fig. l is aplan viewpof one kform of weft detector in engagement with a suflicient 'supply of weft for continued weaving, the'cap of the detector mounting being removed for the sake of clearness, Y Y

' Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. l but with. the detector in engagement with a substantially bare hobbin and moved to indicating position, A l

Fig. 3 is a vertical section on line 3-3 of Fig. 1,

4 is a vertical section on line 4-4 of Fig. l,

Fig. 5 is a View similar to a portion of Fig. 1 Y showing a modined form of the detector, and

I motion ondeteoting beats of the loom.

Fig. 6 is a vertical section online 6 6 of Fig. Referring to the drawing 1 have shown a shuttle S provided with a bobbin B having a barrel 10 on which is wound a mass of Vweft W as shown in Fig. ,1. The shuttle is carried by a lay not shown and moves back and forth in the loom,

being presented to detecting. position on alternate forward position.V l

A stand l1 is provided withran upstandin'g horn 12 through which extends va'vertical slot 13 substantially parallel tothe shuttle. Moving in the slot is an actuator 14 which is given a downward A controller 15 pivoted as at 16 to a portion of the stand 1l is normally in the full line position shown in Fig. 4 out of the path of the actuator 14. 'At indication of weft exhaustion, however, the controller moves against the action of a counterweight 17. to .the dotted line position'shown in Fig. 4to interrupt downward movement of the actuator, thereby giving indication of weft eX- Vhaustion to mechanism not shown but eiective ythe bed and has pivotally attached thereto as atr 23 a detector arm 24:.` The latter has a forwardly extending linger 25 which is adapted to' swing the controller 15 from the .full to theY dotted line positionshown in Fig. 4 when the detector indicates substantial exhaustion of weft.

" There is interposed between the bed and cap a compression spring 26 the forward end of which bears against a wall 27 of the bed and the rear end of which engages a lateral extension 28 of the arm 24. An .upward extension 29 formed on the carrier 22 `engages they cap to limit rearward. movement of said carrier under influenceof the spring and a stop pin 3G on the carrier is engaged by the iinger 25 to determine the angular position of the detector arm relatively to the sliding carrier. Y y

The matter thus far described may be substantially the same as set forth in the aforesaid patte'nt to Ryon and also in my co-pending applica'- tionSer. No. 260,431. K

In carrying the preferred form of my invention into effect zprovide an improved detector element formed of a` wire 40the forward substantially parallel ends 41 and 42 of which areextend'edinto the arm'. 24 to Abe secured'thereto in any approved manner. The wire Yis bent back on itself at approximatelyitsmidpoint tov provide a substantially vertical weft engaging member 43 as shown in Fig. The upper and' lower porftions44 and 45 of `the .wire which extendrfor- ,wardly with respect to the engaging member 43 are each preferably bent to the left as viewed in the drawing as at 46 and are each given a second forward bend 47. Other bends are so` proportioned as to locate the ends 41 and 42 as shown in Figs. l and 2. In this way the detector element is provided with an offset portion which n yarn said detector will bend to assume the dotted line position designated at 50 Vin Fig. l. This bending is due to the factthat the spring 26 is suciently strong with respect to yielding resistance of the detector wire to cause the latter to yield. During the continued forward movement of the lay, force from the latter will be communicated throughout the whole length of the wire detector to the pivot 23, whereupon the sliding carrier 22 will move forwardly against action of the spring 26. This forward movement of the carrier, however, starts a brief interval 'of time after engagement of the arm and detector element and ata somewhat slower rate than the movement of the lay.V kIn this way the yarn which is in direct contact with the detector is not required to transmit instantaneously and at the moment of contact all the force that is necessary to set the relatively heavy carrier 22 in motion.

If insucient yarn isA present the detector will slide along the barrel 10 of the bobbin as indicated in Fig. 2; thereby causing angular movement of the arm 24 around its pivot with consequent movement of the controller to loom chang-V ing position, as previously described.

In the modified form of my invention shown in Figs. 5 and 6 I provide a weft engaging block which is made of upper and lower sections 6l and 62. Each section is provided with a groove 63 and the grooves are vertically'aligned to receive a wire 64 similar in function to the wire of the preferred form. This wire 64 has two oirsets 65 similar to the offsets 47, and the forward ends of the wire are secured to the detectorarm 24.V

The two sections 61 and 62 are held together by a screw which passes through one section and is threaded into the other, the resultant block being held in position by the part of wire 64 located in the grooves 63.

I have found that if the spring 26 be made too weak and the detector be rigid there is an objectionable rebound on the part of the detector which in effect gives the yarn two blows for each detecting beat of the loom, instead of one. In carrying my invention into effect I make the spring 26 strong enough to prevent the rebound but I find that under certain conditions the spring will then be strong enough to damage very fine yarns, but bv providing the resilient detector as set forth herein the abrasion of the weft is avoided.

I have found that in either form of the invention there is a tendency for rthe bent part of the wire to move the ilnger 25 away from the controller l5 when sufficient weft is present on a detecting beat,`and this feature of my invention is best attained by having the offset extend as shown away from the direction in which the detector slides when giving indication of weft exhaustion. The offset acts under normal detecting conditions to move the controller finger in a direction opposite to that in which the latter moves when giving rindication of weft exhaustion. The effect of this is to hold said finger against the stop 30 to prevent such vibration cf the part 25 as might result in premature indication.

From the foregoing it will be seen that I have provided a very simple form of detector element which is made of wire so bent and formed as tc yield on itself when acted upon by a force communicated through the yarn as the lay advances. It will further be seen that the wire makes it possible hy bending to vary to some extent the angular offset of the detecting member 43 with respect to the pivot 23. It will also be noted that I have provided a detector which is held normally in rearward position by a spring sufficiently strong to prevent rebound, and avoid `^ijury to ne yarns by making the detector sufficiently resilient to yield slightly at the instant of impact with the yarn without requiring the carrier 22 to be set into .motion at the instant of impact. Another feature of my invention is that the carrier is moved forwardly by a force communicated from the yarn through a resilient detector whereby the carrier may start to move forwardly at a rate somewhat slower than that of the lay.

Having thus described my invention it will be .seen that changes and modifications may be made therein by those skilled in the art without departing from the sp' it and scope of the invention and I do not wish to be limited to the details herein. disclosed, but what I claim is:

l. In a weft detecting mechanism, a yarn end'device, a pair of resilient elements operatively connected together and interposed between the surface and the device, the element nearer the surface yielding under less initial pressure than the other element, said element nearer the surface forming the sole support for the surface and communicating force derived from the yarn to the other element to compress the latter, whereby both elements are compressed in succession, both elements acting to restore the surface to normal position after a detecting beat of loom.

2. In a weft detecting mechanism, a yarn engaging surface to slide along a depleted bobbin to effect 'indication of weft exhaustion, a fixed device, and a pair of compressible elements operatively connected together and interposet between the surface and the device, said surface being normally fixed to that element nearer the surface and supported against gravity by the last named element, the latter yielding te pressure prior to yielding of the element remote-from the surface, both o'f said 'elements moving forwardly under a force derived frein the weft and transmitted through the surface and element adjacent thereto, said element remote from the surface being subjected to yielding only at some time subsequent to the initial impact between the surface and weft, both elements acting to restore the surface to normal position.

3. In a weft detector, a guiding support, a slide movable forwardly and rearwardly therein, an arm operatively connected to the slide and movable relatively thereto, a weft engaging member, and a resilient device intermediate the arm and member andforming the sole support for the latter.

4. In. a weft detecting mechanism for a loom having a lay movable forwardly therein, a fixed device, a member mounted to have angular and l o slidable movements, a resilient means iixed to the member at one end and engaging the weft at the other end, a second resilient element operatively connected -to the member and the device, said first' resilient element when engaging a suflicient' supply of weft yielding forwardly a predetermined amount relatively to the member so as to avoid abrad-ing the weft andthereafter asthe'lay continues its forward movementeXerting-a force derived from the lay and transmitting the force to both the element and member to move them forwardly, all of said force beingY transmitted through the element. i v

5. In a weft detecting mechanism for a loom having a lay movable therein, a fixed guide, a slide mounted for sliding movements therein, a detector arm mounted for angular movement on the slide, a resilient elementto hold the slide and rearwardly, and a second resilient detecting element secured to the arm to' have connr tact with lthe weft and having yielding movement forwardly relatively to the arm prior to the yieldof the first element by a force derived from the lay` andV transmitted through the second ele-- ment, all of said force being transmitted through the element. Y

6. in a weit detectingV mechanism having a support, a detector member movable angularly and longitudinally relatively to the supportg'a feeler tip out of engaging relation with the member, and a pair of resilient elements both operatively related to the member, one of said elements acting to move the member and tip rearwardlyl and angularly after an indication of weit exhausv tion, and the other element interposed between the member and tip and constituting the sole support' for the" latter, the said other elementy yielding prior to the yielding of the i'lrst named element. i v

7. A feeler nger having a forward arm formed with a fiat surface to coact slidingly with a supe port and having a bearing opening therein, saidl ngerhaving a rear weft engaging tip, and a resilient element connecting the arm and tip and forming the sole means of support for the tip relatively to the arm.

8. A feeler finger having an arm by means of which said finger is supported, the armhaving l provision for maintaining pivotal connection with a support, a weft engaging tip forming part` of the nger, and a resilient element interposed between the arm and finger to permit yielding of the tip relatively to the arm and being the sole support of the tip relatively to the arm.

9. A feeler finger having a supporting arm made of flat material havingsubstantially parallel upper and lower flat bearing surfaces and vhaving provision for pivotal support, a weft engaging tip spaced from andout of contact with the arm, and a resilient element forming the only connection between the arm and tip. y

10, A feeler element having an arm provided with 'a forwardly extending n'ger and having a bearing therein for connection with a pivotal support, a weft engaging feeler tip spaced from the arm, and a resilient connection between the arm and tip and constituting the `onlysupport for the tip relatively to the arm.

y1l. A' feeler element having an arm provided with a forwardly extending nger and having a bearing therein for connection with a pivotal sup-` port, a weft engaging feeler tip spaced from the arm, and a resilientconnection between the arm and tip and constituting the only support for the tip relatively tc the arm, the resilient connection comprisingla bent wire the forward end of which is secured tothe arm'."

l2.V A feelerelement having an arm provided with a forwardly extending ringer and having a bearing therein for connection with a pivotal support,v a weft engaging feeler tipv spaced from the arm, and a resilient connection between the arm and tip and constituting the only supportfor the tip relatively to the arm, the tip being formed of igid non-flexible material.

13. A feeler finger having an arm to have pivotal and supporting relation with respect lto a carrier, a weft engaging tip spaced from the arm, and a resilient connection between the arm and tip and being the sole support of the tip relatively to the arm, said resilient connection capable of delecting inkall angular irections relatively to the arm to render said tip capable of move- -ment relatively to the arm-in all angular directhe arni, and a resilient connection between the arm and tip and constituting the only support for the tip relatively to the arm, the resilient connection comprising a bent wire the forward end of which is secured tothe arm, the wire having a portion thereof intermediate the tip and arm offset in a direction transversely of a line joining the tip land arm. Y Y Y l5. In a weft detecting mechanism having a yarn engaging surface -rnovable along a depleted supply-'of weft :to give'indication of lweft eX- lhaustion, a pair of resilient elements operatively connected together, the forward end of the forward element being held against movement and the rear portion of the rearelementbeing operativelyl connected to the surface and forming the sole support of the surface, the rear element operatively connected to the surface yielding more readily than the other element, both of said elements 'acting tomcve the surface rearwardly to normal position after the surface has had' a movement indicating weft exhaustion and the forward element yielding at a point in the cycle of the loom subsequent to the initial impact of the ment adjacent the surface.

16. In a weft detecting mechanism having' a yarn engaging surface movable along a depleted 'supply of weft about a pivot oiset from; i the surface in the direction ofthe length ofthe surface being detected, the degree of offset being increased when the surface slides along an exhausted bobbin to give indicated of weft exhaustion, a fixed device, a` pair of operatively connected compressible elements interposed between the device and the surface, one element engaging thel device and the other element connected to the surface, a weighted `mass movable with the rstfnamed element, said elements being coinpressible under different degrees of pressure, the element operatively connected to the surface being secured to the weighted mass and beingv compressed more readily than the irstnamed element, whereby the latter will have its initial compression at some time subsequent tothe time of impact .between the surface and the yarn and subsequent tothe compression of the element operatively connected to the Vweighted mass.

17.111 a weft detecting mechanism having a yarn engaging member movablel along a depleted supply of weft to give indication of Vweft ex- Vsurface with the weft and compression of the elehausti'on, a pair of resilient elements operatively connected, one of said elements being operatively connected to the member and the other element having the forward end thereof held against fon v ward movement, a weighted mass operatively connected to the other element and movable for# wardly to compress said element, the first named element being secured to the weighted mass and being compressed at the time of impact between the weft and member and prior to the initial forward movement of the weighted mass, and transmitting all force which compresses the other element.

i8. En a side slipping weft detector, a detector surface to slide along a denuded weft support, a controller, a carrier for the surface having a part to coact with the controller at indication of weft exhaustion and having another part resilient to respond to the impact of the weft on the surface and having provision by virtue of which the first named part is constrained to move away from the controller when the second part yields.

19. A feeler finger having a forward arm 'formed with a at surface to coact slidingly with a support and having a bearing opening therein, said finger having a rear weft engaging tip, and a wire connecting the tip and arm and having a resilient offset extending in a direction opposite to that in which the tip slides at indication of weft exhaustion.

20. A feeler nger having a forward arm formed with a flat surface vto coact slidingly with a support and having a bearing opening therein, said nger having a rear weft engaging tip, and a wire connecting the tip and arm and having a resilient offset extending toward a line joining the tip and bearing from one side to the other side of a line joining the tip and bearing.

21. A feeler finger having a forward arm formed with a flat surface to coact slidingly with a support and having a bearing opening therein, said nnger having a rear weft engaging tip, and a resilient connection between the 'tip and arm having a yielding offset extending laterally of a line joining the tip and bearing.

22. A feeler nger having a forward arm formed with a flat surface to coact slidingly with a support and having a bearing opening therein, said finger having a rear weft engaging tip, and a resilient connection between the'tip and arm having a yielding offset extending laterally of and across a line joining the tip and bearing.

23. In a weft detector mechanism having a supply of weft and support therefor, a detector surface to indicate weft exhaustion when the weft is depleted, a sliding member movable in a direction transverse of the support for the weft, a controller, and a carrier for the detector sur-- face pivotally connected to the sliding member and having apart to coa-ct with the controller and having another part between the first part and the surface having a resilient offset extending toward the line along which the member slides and effective to move the nrst named part away from the controller when weft is present.

24. In a weft detector mechanism 'having a supply of weft and support therefor, a detector surface to slide along the support to indicate weft exhaustion when the weft is depleted, a sliding member movable in a direction transverse of the support for the weft, a controller, a pivot on the sliding member, and a carrier movable labout the pivot and having a part to coact with theV controller and having a resilient offset part located between theV surface and the pivot and extending in a direction from the point of contact between the surface and the weft and the line along which the member slides, the offset acting when the surface is engaged by the weft to tend to move the rst named part of the carrier away from the controller.

25. A side slipping weft detector mechanism for a loom having a supply of yarn and support therefor, a controller to determine the operation of the loom, a detector surface to engage the yarn and slide along the support when the weft is exhausted, an element to position the controller, and a resilient connection between the detector surface and the eiement effective when suiiicient weft is present to transmit a force from the weft to the element tending to move the latter away from the controller, the resilient connection effective when the detector surface moves along a depleted support to move the element toward the controller.

26. A side slipping weft detector mechanism for a loom having a supply of yarn and support therefor, a controller to determine the operation of the loom, a detector surface to engage the yarn and slide along the support when the weft exhausted, an element to position the controller, a connection between the detector surface and the element having a resilient offset extending in a direction opposite to that in which the detector surface moves along the support when indicating weft exhaustion,` said oiset effective when sufficient weft is present to tend to move the clement away from the controller and eifective when the weft is depleted and the detector surface moves along the support to move said element toward the controller.

27. A detecting mechanism for a loom having a surface to be detected, a controller to determine the operation of the loom, an element to have an operative movement to position the controller in loom changing position, and a side slipping weft dectector connected to the element and effective when sufcient weft ris present to tend to move the element away from the controller and effective when insufficient weft is present to move the element toward the controller. 'y i 23. In a weft detecting mechanism for a loomv move the contr Jer, and means operative by a force derived from movement of the surface to be detected and eifective when a working supply of weft is present to tend to move said element away from the controller and effective when an insufficient' supply of weft is present to move said element toward the controller.

29. In a kweft detecting mechanism for a loom having a surface to be detected, a controller to be moved from normal to lloom changing position at indication of weft exhaustion, an element to move the controller, and means operative by a rforce derived from movement of the surface to be detected and effective when a working supply of weft is present to tend to move said element in one direction and eiec- I" tive when insuicient weftk is present to move said elementin the opposite direction.

OSCAR v. PAYNE. 

